Tonkatsu by Ma Maison @ Mandarin Gallery

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison may not be new, but I’ve finally found enough determination to resist the pull I get from Ippudo Ramen whenever I’m at Mandarin Gallery. If you don’t already know, Ippudo Ramen is my go-to place for a bowl of comforting ramen, specifically Akamaru Tamago Ramen (Hard). Now, back to Tonkatsu. I really appreciate the way Japanese fry their food, which leaves minimal grease. I used to love Katsudons (fried pork cutlet rice), a primary dish in Japanese cuisine, yet after having Tonkatsus in specialised restaurants, I’ve never looked back.
p.s.: All set meals here come with a bowl of white/multi-grain rice, soup and pickles.
Tonkatsu, sweet, soy and sesame sauces, together with sesame seeds to add more flavours to your dish!Grated Radish – Wow, this was smooth. Extremely smooth. I wonder if this was shredded and blended and ground a hundred times over? It definitely cleansed my palette before a heavy meal.Deep-fried Prawns & Pork Loin ($24.80) – I chose pork loin over pork fillet as I felt that pork loin would have been more tender, and tender it was! Biting into a slice of pork was so effortless. Your teeth will first sink into its fragrant, crunchy outer crust that was surprisingly light and thin. The prawns were extremely fresh and most importantly, not overcooked, which gave the prawns their deserving springy textures. Again, the batter was light and crisp, making fried food all the more addictive! I had my set with their multi-grain rice and I must say that they tasted exactly like white rice, with some darker grains that were chewier. Given all the benefits that come with multi-grain rice, I had no qualms piling on these healthy carbs! Do note that both rice and shredded cabbage come free-flow, so you can eat to your heart’s content. I had my cabbage with some sesame sauce and it was delicious – a fantastic side to all the fried stuff! Remember to add a dash of lemon for the citrusy kick!Deep-fried Multi-layered Sliced Pork Cutlet w Cheese ($26.80) – Another winner, this one. As the layered cutlet started off with paper-thin pork slices that are rolled up with cheese wrapped within, the end product was a stunningly, fork-tender pork wrap! I like how the cheese had been melted into a gooey state from the heat, though more cheese would have been welcomed.Deep-fried Oyster ($4) – Plump, juicy and fresh, the oyster was shared between 2 people as it was huge! I’m exaggerating here ‘cos it’s actually just a mouthful each, yet big enough a mouthful to make each bite satisfying!

If you’re craving for deep-fried food but watching your weight, Tonkatsu by Ma Maison in my opinion will be a good pick since all the vegetables and brown rice accompanying your fried meats are healthy choices and really, it didn’t feel oily at all! I suppose this is the epitome of an excellent Tonkatsu meal and if you know of places any better (apart from those in Japan), do let me know. 🙂